Vehicle speed control system using wireless communications and method for controlling the same

Abstract

Disclosed a vehicle speed control system using wireless communications, the system including a driving state detecting unit for detecting a driving state and outputting corresponding signals; a transmitter/receiver for outputting low-strength signals; an electronic control unit for receiving the signals of the transmitter/receiver and establishing an ISA mode if necessary, determining if a present driving state corresponds to a first driving state, determining if the driver has performed deceleration operations and performing control into the first driving state if needed; an engine control unit for outputting signals for control of the throttle valve opening; a throttle valve electronic control unit for outputting electrical signals to a throttle valve to control the same; and a display for displaying a present mode and a vehicle state. A method for controlling the system comprises the steps of receiving signals from an RF transmitter/receiver to determine if a vehicle is in a first driving state; establishing an ISA mode and performing display of the ISA mode; determining a present driving state for comparison with the first driving state and performing display to inform the driver of the result of the comparison; determining if the driver has performed a deceleration operation if the present driving state does not correspond to the first driving state; disengaging the ISA mode and enabling full control of the vehicle by the driver if the present driving state corresponds to the first driving state or if the driver has performed a deceleration operation; and controlling an engine control unit via CAN communications if the driver has not performed a deceleration operation.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A vehicle speed control system using wireless communications comprising: 
       a driving state detecting unit for detecting steering angle, vehicle speed, throttle valve opening, brake operation, and turn signal operation, and outputting corresponding signals;  
       a transmitter/receiver for outputting low-strength signals containing information of a speed limit and a range of the speed limit;  
       an electronic control unit for receiving the signals of the transmitter/receiver and establishing an ISA mode if necessary, determining if a present driving state corresponds to a first driving state using the signals of the driving state detecting unit, determining if the driver has performed deceleration operations, and performing control into the first driving state if needed;  
       an engine control unit for outputting signals for control of the throttle valve opening according to control signals of the electronic control unit;  
       a throttle valve electronic control unit for receiving the signals output from the engine control unit and outputting electrical signals to a throttle valve to control an opening degree of the throttle valve; and  
       a display for displaying a present mode and a vehicle state according to the control signals of the electronic control unit.  
     
     
       2. The vehicle speed control system of  claim 1  wherein the transmitter/receiver is provided adjacent to a specific lane, and the low-strength signals of the transmitter/receiver are such that vehicles traveling on the opposite lane do not receive the signals. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle speed control system of  claim 1  wherein the electronic control unit determines if the present driving state corresponds to the first driving state after establishing the ISA mode, enables full control of the vehicle by the driver if the present driving state corresponds to the first driving state, and control the display to output a warning message if the present driving state does not correspond to the first driving state. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle speed control system of  claim 3  wherein the electronic control unit determines if the driver has performed a deceleration operation during a predetermined interval after output of the warning message, enables full control of the vehicle by the driver if the driver has performed a deceleration operation, and performing control into the first driving state if the driver has not performed a deceleration operation. 
     
     
       5. A method for controlling a vehicle control system using wireless communications comprising the steps of: 
       receiving signals from an RF transmitter/receiver to determine if a vehicle is in a first driving state in a speed limit zone;  
       establishing an ISA mode for control into the first driving state and performing display to alert the driver of such control;  
       determining a present driving state, comparing the present driving state with the first driving state, determining if the present driving state corresponds to the first driving state, and performing display to inform the driver of the result of the comparison;  
       determining if the driver has performed a deceleration operation if the present driving state does not correspond to the first driving state;  
       disengaging the ISA mode and enabling full control of the vehicle by the driver if the present driving state corresponds to the first driving state or if the driver has performed a deceleration operation; and  
       controlling an engine control unit via CAN communications if the driver has not performed a deceleration operation, engine control being performed such that a throttle valve is controlled to reduce the speed of the vehicle.  
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of determining if the driver has performed a deceleration operation comprises the steps of: 
       (a) determining if the driver has depressed a brake, determining if the driver has released an accelerator pedal, or if the a throttle valve opening is less than a predetermined throttle valve opening;  
       (b) determining if the driver has operated a turn signal if one of the conditions of step (a) is not satisfied;  
       (c) determining if a steering angle is greater than or equal to 30° if the driver has not operated a turn signal;  
       (d) maintaining the ISA mode if the steering angle is less than 30°;  
       (e) disengaging the ISA if any of the conditions of steps (a), (b) and (c) are satisfied.